Electrical cardioversion to sinus rhythm significantly increased median cerebral blood flow from 35.8 to 46.7 ml/100 g.min-1 at 30 days after correction for end-tidal PCO2.
Observational (n=9)
Does electrical cardioversion therapy to sinus rhythm improve cerebral blood flow in patients with atrial fibrillation?
Electrical cardioversion to sinus rhythm significantly increases cerebral blood flow in patients with recent-onset atrial fibrillation, suggesting reduced CBF during AF may contribute to cerebrovascular complications.
Absolute Event Rate: 46.7% vs 35.8%
In nine patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) of less than 3 months' duration, CBF was measured the day before and after and again 30 days after electrical cardioversion therapy to sinus rhythm. The day before cardioversion therapy, median CBF (expressed as initial slope index 1, ml/100 g.min-1) was 35.8 and the day after it was 37.1. After 30 days in sinus rhythm, CBF was 39.4 (NS), although the end-tidal PCO2 values were lower than the pretreatment values. After correction for changes in end-tidal PCO2, the median CBF had increased significantly from 35.8 to 40.3 on day 1 and to 46.7 on day 30. The reduced CBF during AF could be a contributing factor in the development of cerebrovascular complications in patients with AF.
Petersen et al. (1989) conducted an observational in Atrial fibrillation (n=9). Electrical cardioversion vs. Pretreatment (during atrial fibrillation) was evaluated on Median cerebral blood flow (CBF) corrected for changes in end-tidal PCO2. Electrical cardioversion to sinus rhythm significantly increased median cerebral blood flow from 35.8 to 46.7 ml/100 g.min-1 at 30 days after correction for end-tidal PCO2.